Khaberni - Relative calm has entered its seventh day in the atmosphere of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries since the announcement of the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, amid an absence of any new Iranian rocket or drone attacks on the region.
Previous data issued by the Gulf defense ministries affirmed their maintenance of a high state of alert in light of the current calm, but they have not recorded any new interceptions during the past days, reflecting a relatively stable air situation, except for the first day of the ceasefire which witnessed Iranian targeting in Gulf countries.
On the other hand, tension remains in the regional waters, where the United States continues to impose a full sea blockade on Iranian ports since the morning of April 13, deploying more than 10,000 marines and several warships of the Central Command.
According to vessel tracking data from the Kpler (Kpler) and LSEG (LSEG) platforms, more than 20 commercial ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours until the morning of April 15, a number much lower than the average daily normal before the crisis (about 100 ships per day), but it indicates the continued limited navigation for ships not heading to Iranian ports.
Yesterday, Tuesday, "Al Jazeera" reported that at least three ships—including two under U.S. sanctions—passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the first full day of the blockade (April 14), and the Chinese tanker "Rich Starry" successfully exited the Gulf for the first time since the blockade began because it was not heading to Iran.
U.S. forces forced six commercial ships to retreat and re-enter Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman, while two tankers changed their route immediately upon the start of the blockade, according to vessel tracking data from "MarineTraffic" and reports from "United Against Nuclear Iran."
No direct incidents or new maritime confrontations were recorded in the last 24 hours, but Iran renewed its warning that any threat to its ports would lead to a response affecting "all ports in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman," while U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed that American forces would deal "swiftly and harshly" with any Iranian ship approaching the blockade.
In light of these tensions, the Gulf countries are closely monitoring developments, with confirmation that navigation in Hormuz should remain open in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, without unilateral restrictions.
Yesterday, Tuesday, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari, said in a press conference, "The Strait of Hormuz must be opened, and no party should control or use it as leverage," calling for a regional solution to the current crisis.
This comes at a time when diplomatic efforts continue, as attention turns to a possible new round of negotiations between the sides in Islamabad, after the previous round held last Saturday was unsuccessful.
